Alcohol Good For Bone Health

For some time now researchers and doctors have suggested that drinking alcohol, such as red wine, can relieve stress, assist with preventing heart problems and even add years to one’s life.
In fact, recently a study exclaimed that moderate drinking of alcohol can lead to elevated levels of bone density in females.

Many know that milk has vitamin D; therefore it is logical that if one drinks milk such will lead to stronger, healthier bones.

Well, it looks like there is an alternative, as this recent study is suggesting that the often controversial beverage, alcohol, provides just as good results. Actually, the suggestion is that alcohol can prevent and actually reverse bone loss.

Prior research purported a causal connection between females who drink alcohol and elevated levels of bone density. As well, prior research revealed just the opposite for females who were heavy drinkers and non-drinkers.

With that said, researchers have yet to determine or pinpoint exactly how alcohol works within the female body to produce this effect of higher level of bone density.

Nevertheless, according to researchers who conducted experiments on rodents, alcohol does have a cause and effect relationship with bone density.

Bones evolve over time, sort of in an ebb and flow manner, never remaining constant; some areas break down while others build up over time.

Even more, as the aging process occurs bones go through a metamorphosis, in which bones become weaker and thinner.

Well, moderate drinking of alcohol somehow reverses or prevents the negative effects of aging on bone density.
According to a study published in Menopause, a journal, researchers began with a focus on determining how moderate levels of alcohol could impact bone evolution in women, particularly those women who are at higher risks for developing bone fractures later in life.

The study reveals that osteoporosis occurs in postmenopausal women sixty-five years old and over. Therefore, the study examined a demographic of 40 healthy post-menopausal women under the age of sixty-five. Each study participant was a daily, moderate drinker who had a preference for wine.

In the United States, a five-ounce glass of wine is a standard drink. A typical bottle of wine produces about five glasses of wine.

Study researchers asked all forty participants to refrain from drinking any type of alcohol for a two week period after which time they were allowed to recommence drinking alcohol for a total of two days. Following the two days of drinking, researchers found that bone density positively correlated with consumption of alcohol.

Put another way, the health of women’s bone density improved the more they drank within a moderate volume.

The complete opposite occurred when the women refrained from drinking alcohol during the two week period of time. In fact, results revealed that there were negative changes regarding bone evolution, specifically with regard to bone density and resorption.

The take away is that moderation is the key. If women drink moderate levels of alcohol and perhaps even drink milk as well, they can do nothing but assist in the healthy development of their bodies, particularly their bones.

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About the Author

DeShawn McQueen is a staff writer at Recovery Now Newspaper and Recoverynowtv.com, an informative newspaper that serves as a resource for persons of all stages of drug and alcohol treatment, by giving them access to relevant and necessary information so that they may live balanced and substance-free lifestyles. DeShawn graduated from Wayne State University with Bachelor of Science degrees in psychology and premedical sciences. He holds a Juris Doctors degree in law from Valparaiso University School of Law. DeShawn’s writing and research has been published in such academic journals as Behavioral Pharmacology and Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior among others. He lives in Los Angeles, California.

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Comment Via Facebook

Kim, writes:
Cindy, My son needs help. When he was 14, he was involved in a bad accident which required him to have surgery. At the age of 18, he was in another, more serious accident, which resulted in a broken pelvis and more surgery. After the surgery, he was put on pain medications. Well, he became very dependent on the medications, and began abusing them. Within no time, he had moved on to more potent drugs, and then came the alcohol. I see him getting progressively worse, and he is to the point now where he cannot stay away from the drugs or the alcohol despite several attempts to quit. We have talked several times about his problem, and he is willing to get help. I am very concerned for him, and I just want to him to get the help he needs.

Cindy writes:
Thank you for your concerns Kim. I can understand what your son is going through. We see this situation too often, where someone has a serious injury or accident, and a legitimate reason to be put on pain medications. However, at some point, the line between needing the medication and wanting the medication gets blurred. It seems that in your son’s case, that line has been crossed. Opiate addiction is a serious problem, and often happens before the person taking the medicine even realizes they are addicted. You mentioned noticing your son getting progressively worse. We often refer to addiction as being “chronic, progressive, and fatal”. Unfortunately, addiction is not something that will just go away if we ignore it. In fact, the longer we ignore it, the more it progresses. We must be willing to recognize that we have a problem, and willing to accept help. It’s good to hear you mention that your son is willing to accept help, and we are here to help him any way we can. We offer medically assisted detoxification programs specifically designed for Opiate withdrawal, as well as Intensive Outpatient, or Residential Treatment. We can develop an individualized treatment plan for your son to help address any underlying issues that may be contributing to his addiction, as well as establish a solid after-care plan for him. I know you want what is best for your son, and we want to help restore a new hope for him.